Breaking: Leafs forward absence from practice sparks injury/trade rumors.

It seemed like a relatively small update but it has already sparked some very big rumors.

According to a report from Paul Hendrick of Leafs TV, Maple Leafs forward James Van Riemsdyk is absent from practice today, leaving some to speculate that he may be injured, and leading others to speculate that the trade rumors that floated around him this summer may have been realized.

The most notable trade that the Leafs have been connected to has been the talk around both defenseman Cam Fowler and Hampus Lindholm in Anaheim, although to be fair at no point was JVR mentioned as a possible trading chip in those rumors.

That being said, it's been clear for some time now based on the sheer number of rumors JVR has been connected to that there is some interest in shopping him around from the Maple Leafs, and the acquisition of a quality top four type of defenseman would certainly making moving him an interesting possibility. For now though these remain merely rumors.

More to come.

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